Hamas is not a terrorist organization. Period
Hasan Yahya, Ph.D
The American congress is urged to remove Hamas’s name from the terrorist organizations. Such a decision was debated in the Senate and influenced by pro-Zionist and Israeli Lobbies taking advantages of what was announced by President Push’s “War on Terror” which named Hamas as a terrorist organization. Forgetting the purpose of Hamas and its goals as defending Palestinian rights in the face of occupied Palestine since 1948.
The Islamic militants of Hamas are sincere Palestinians, Most of them loved everything American from cowboy movies to hamburgers. Muslim brothers, in Hamas often flaunt their knowledge of the West, speak the west language [German, English or French]. Most of them listen to Mozart; and read Shakespeare. They also watch the Comedy Channels and believe in the implementation of the human rights according to Islamic Shari`a laws. To give an example of Hamas famous personnel, Mousa Abu Marzook, the head of Hamas’ political committee, has lived in the United States from 1980 to late 1990s, he has a doctorate in engineering from Louisiana State University. Unfortunately he became one of the leaders for Hamas as an Islamist lived in America, as many, but still a possibility to engage in political solutions.
In the wave of failure Arab systems to stand for Israeli occupation and to provide solutions for high rate unemployment, and refugees movement. Hamas was formulated as a military branch of Muslim Brother groups (supported by outside assistance of the Muslim Brother movement in Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Muslim charity organizations) as rival to (secularist) PLO after the failure of Oslo agreement to bring peace or to sustain Palestinian rights. Hamas was an expression of rejecting Israeli policies in making settlements all over the West Bank and Gaza Strip and its continuous refusal of Zionist Israel to recognize the refugees rights for return, and making Jerusalem its Jewish capital. At the beginning, Israel was mistaken to encourage Hamas in the first place to be effective for two reasons: 1) Israel wanted Hamas or else, to stand as a rival against PLO, taking chances that the more fractions opposing PLO and Yassir Arafat will benefit Israel to pass over its policies of showing Palestinians that peace is impossible. (This fact may be classified under Israel’s policy: “Farriq Tasud” meaning divide to rule. Or to make your own policies while factions fight each other; 2) The other factor was that encouraging Hamas will give Israel a reason to continue its policies in attacking civilians, demolishing houses, and boulderizing trees and homes and making wide room for Palestinians despair to loose hope for peace. But Israel as I said was mistaken. Hamas at the beginning used suicide bombers which is the least sacrifice can be provided to liberate Occupied Palestine among young Muslims youth. It’s the only perceived window to give oneself for a noble cause. Such practices were publicized as shahada –Martyrdom, (false or true it is not the argument here, because the idea is rejected widely among intellectuals and secularists) to be the method of resistance to Israeli occupation. It hurts Israel in many years, through successful attempts, but in the same time served the goals of Israeli policies to continue the use of its military might to suppress Palestinians and make their lives impossible as ordinary human beings in their homes or their movement from one place to another for serious business or health purposes. In addition, settlement and the stubborn behavior continue to take place in a competition between the political parties (The Lekud, and Labor, plus new invented ones, such as Kadima, and Erits Israel) in Israel where almost all peace projects followed Oslo Accord were neglected and failed to solve the problem. Hamas suicide bombers helped (unintentionally) Israel to Passover its claims for security measures acceptable for world community. Unfortunately, Israeli propaganda was successful to make small incidents (suicide bombing, and launching ineffective rockets) enlarged by official media supported by biased American Jewish owned (read my article on Bias of American Media under articlesbase publications) or used as pro-Israeli propaganda to make these incidents a great deal, while victims volume are almost less comparable to victims of crazy person in the USA, or Europe attacks American schools or post offices or aged handicapped houses. But that propaganda was essential changed the halo effect of Hamas among Arabs, Muslims and even western world [the EU, and USA, Canada, Australia, etc.,) into a terrorism stigma. The 9/11 have enhanced such propaganda against Hamas and similar militant groups in the region. As a result, Erial Sharon was successful to decrease the dream among Palestinians and Arabs to have a Palestinian state. George Bush, the father was more wise than his son, he was serious about Jewish settlement in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, when he stopped what was known as loans to Israel for such projects. George W. Bush, the son trying to satisfy Arabs and Muslims after his unforgettable mistakes toward Islam and Muslims in his “war on terror”, announced before the end of presidential years, the two state principle and promised to make the dream come true before the end of his days in the White House. His failure was imminent, because Israel wanted that. Or because the circumstances were difficult to make the dream comes true. One of President Bush’s mistakes was his earlier letter which legitimized settlement projects and gave Israel the endless support of settlements issue. Erial Sharon was very intelligent political Zionist to counterpart any dream for Palestinians to have a state. The security paper always used to Passover anti-peace plans. Sharon in fact knew well how to manipulate PLO, and make the struggle to look as all wars of Israel against neighboring countries were made for security purposes. But Israel with the assistance of American foreign policies, whether in building the WALL, or attacking the West Bank against Yassir Arafat PLO, 2003, Lebanon 2006, and Gaza Strip in 2009 militarily failed with at least not achieving its announced objectives after each war. It is illogical to use power when someone has the chance for peace. Hamas fighters were never demons in their resistance of occupation, and Israelis were never angels in their wars north, west or south.
To go back to the start of this article, the appeal to take Hamas’s name from the list of terrorist organizations, it is time to regain its reputation as an effective partner for peace in the near future. Furthermore, we have the example of taking out Zionism as apartheid racist system from UN records. Time is changing, and new fresh and positive foreign policies have to take place in the White House and U.S Congress. By doing this the USA will prevent a new Itifadah, may not ONLY include occupied territories. Muslim militancy is not a joke, Arab and Muslim governments are not doing what is expected from them. Believe me! If the matter got out of hand, Islamic militants can hurt badly our interests especially the military and civil personnel overseas or elsewhere, which is the most gracious value we Americans have. The serial of embassy attacking was not initiated or shared militarily by Hamas, therefore, I look humbly as an American to a balanced USA foreign policy to change America’s negative image abroad into a bright one which took a number of debates of strategic influence recently (especially among NATO members). I think, America began to realize such objective in foreign policy, but we ask for more until peace comes to the Holy Land of Jesus, David and Muhammad. (May peace upon them to satify all).(1303 words)
Hasan Yahya is a professor of Sociology and expert on conflict management, he’s a columnist at wfol.tv, Malaysia and TINA International News Agency, Chicago, USA
www.hasanyahya.com